The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) welcomes the commitment to initiate significant Medicare reforms following the National Cabinet meeting on Friday 28 April and says next week’s Federal Budget is an opportunity to announce further investment in rural healthcare.
ACRRM President Dr Dan Halliday says it’s time the government gets serious about increasing funding to support innovative, flexible and place-based general practice service models which meet the unique needs of rural, remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“The My Medicare initiative and the increase and indexation of Workforce Incentive Payments (WIP) from 2023-24, are a welcome step in the right direction toward stemming the tide for primary care.
“More needs to be done to tackle the maldistribution and resulting severe workforce shortages in rural and remote areas.
“We call for further announcements to support specialist General Practitioners (GPs) and Rural Generalists (RGs) to provide high-quality healthcare where it is most needed,” Dr Halliday says.
“The College strongly supports increased investment in, and development of, RG workforce programs and practice.
“RGs and their local healthcare team colleagues provide the best possible continuity of care that is essential to improving health outcomes for people in rural, remote, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“These doctors and their practices and facilities must be adequately funded and supported to continue to deliver these services where they are most needed.
“We look forward to additional positive news in Tuesday’s budget announcements and will continue to work with the government to ensure this happens,” Dr Halliday says.
To view the College’s budget submission, click here.
ENDS
ACRRM President Dr Dan Halliday says it’s time the government gets serious about increasing funding to support innovative, flexible and place-based general practice service models which meet the unique needs of rural, remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“The My Medicare initiative and the increase and indexation of Workforce Incentive Payments (WIP) from 2023-24, are a welcome step in the right direction toward stemming the tide for primary care.
“More needs to be done to tackle the maldistribution and resulting severe workforce shortages in rural and remote areas.
“We call for further announcements to support specialist General Practitioners (GPs) and Rural Generalists (RGs) to provide high-quality healthcare where it is most needed,” Dr Halliday says.
“The College strongly supports increased investment in, and development of, RG workforce programs and practice.
“RGs and their local healthcare team colleagues provide the best possible continuity of care that is essential to improving health outcomes for people in rural, remote, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“These doctors and their practices and facilities must be adequately funded and supported to continue to deliver these services where they are most needed.
“We look forward to additional positive news in Tuesday’s budget announcements and will continue to work with the government to ensure this happens,” Dr Halliday says.
To view the College’s budget submission, click here.
ENDS